44 

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DAILY EASTERN ARGUS, 



SATURDAY MClRNlNa 



AUGUST 15, I91i 



HISTORICAL MONUMENTS^ 



Bronze Tablets and Cannon, in 
Portsmouth and Vicinity, 



Both in State of Maine and New i 
Hampshire. 



(By Joseph Poster, Pay Director, 
(Rear Admiral) U. S. Navy Re- 
tired.) 
On Wednesday, July 29, 1914, the 
commemoration of two historical 
events took place at Star Island, N. 
H., Isles of Shoals, near Portsmouth. 

First, the dedication of the impos- 
ing granite oblisk lately erected in 
memory of Rev. John Tucke, A. M., 
minister at Star Island for more than 
forty years, before the Revolution, 
1732-1773, by his kinsman, Edward 
Tuck, of Paris, dedicated by the New 
Hampshire Historical Society. 

Second, the dedication of a bronze 
tablet in honor and remembrance of 
the famous Captain John Smith, the 
first recorded visitor to these islands, 
just three centuries ago, by the So- 
ciety of Colonial Wars in the State of 
New Hampshire. The monument 
erected to his memory in 1864, by Rev. 
Daniel Austin, of Portsmouth, N. H., 
half destroyed by the passing years, 
has recently been restored by this so- 
ciety, and a bronze tablet affixed in 
place of the original marble inscrip- 
tion which has been missing for sev- 
eral years. 

The steamer Nassau, chartered by 
the New Hampshire Historical So- 
ciety carried that society and its 
guest.s from Portsmouth to the Isles 
of Shoals and return. 

A dinner at the Oceanic Hotel, Star 
Island, was given by the New Hamp- 
shire Historical Society to its mem- 
bers and guests, about three hundred 
in number, with interesting and schol- 
arly addresses by Rev. Alfred Good- 
ing of Portsmouth, on Rev. John 
Tucke and the early history of the 
Isles of Shoals; and by Justin H. < 
Smith, Esq., of Boston, Governor of 
the Society of Colonial Wars in the 
State of New Hampshire, on Captain 
John Smith. 

The meeting passed a resolution 
asking the Nev,' Hampshire Historical 
Society to consider, and if deemed 
best, to take measures to restore, if 
practicable, the original name of 
"Smith's Isles" to the present Isles of 
Shoals. _ 



The Inscription on the Tucke mon- 
ument is here given: 

"I'nderneath 

are the remains of the 

Rpv. John Tucke, A. M. 

He graduated at Harvard 

College, A. P. 17;;:), was ordained 

here, July 26, 1732, 

and died late in August, 1773. 

AET 71. 

He was affable and polite in his 

manner, amiable in his dispo.sitlon 

of great Piety and Integrity, 

given lo hospitality, 

Diligent and faithful in his 

pastoral office, well learned 

in History and Geography as 

well as general Science, and a 

careful Physician both to the 

I Bodies and the Souls 

' of his people. 

I Erected ISOO in memory of the Just. 

The inscription above is taken from 
the sandstone slab placed over the 
grave of the Rev. John Tucke by 
Dudley A. Tyng of Newburyport, 1 



In 1914 a kinsman 

Edward Tuck 

renewed in per p e tua J form 

this memorial.'* y^/i/ir 01^7- 

The inscription on the Smith tab- 
let is as follows: 

"Captain John Smith 

1579—1631 

after proving his valor in 

Europe and America became 

Governor of Virginia 

and 

Admiral of New England, 

while exploring this coast in the 

(Stu-mg of 1614 made the first record- 

I ed\ visit to these islands, named by 

I _^ him Smith's Isles. 

This tabh?t is placed 
three hundred years later by the 

Society of Colonial Wars 

in the State of New Hampshire 

1914." 

The landing of the first settlers of 
New Hampshire in 16i23,— nine years 
after Captrin John Smith's visit to 
the Isles of Shoals— was commemor- 
ated in 1.S99 by the erection of al 
granite monument at Odiorne's Point, 
Rye, N. H., near Portsmouth, by the 
New Hampshire Society of Colonial 
Dames. The last portion of the in- 
scription records however the later 
result, rather than the primary in- 
tention of the first settlers. 

R.\e. N. H.— At Odiorne's Point, 
near the ancient well, the site of the 
old Manor house, and the burving 
ground of the first settlers in New 
Hampshire: 
Jront: 

"Here landed 

in the Spring of 1623 

the first band of Englishmen 

pioneers in the planting of 

New Hampshire 

consecrating this soil to the 

service of 

God and Liberty" 

Base: . - 

' "1623—1899" 

Rear: , ■- - - • 

"To their perpetual memory 
the National Society 
' ' of the 

,- Colonial Dames of America 
•' '_; . ; in the 

.' State of New Hampshire 
dedicated this .-stone 
' ' 1899" 



It has seemed well to assemble here 
a record of the locality, and of 3 the 
. Inscriptions on Ihc other historical 
bronze tablets in Portsmouth and vi- 
cinity, both in New Hampshire and 
Maine, sixteen in number: and on the 
Soldiers' monument. Fltz-John Porter 
1 equestrian statue, and Hovey Memo- 
rial fountain, the lirst erected by the 
; citizens of Portsmouth, the second by 
a friend, and the third by a sorrowing 
mother, and all in Portsmouth, 

These sixteen additional tablets 
were erected: one each by the Liber- 
' ty Pole Association of Portsmouth, the 
'Helen Seavey Quilting Party of Ports- 
I mouth, the Thomas Bailey 'Aldrich 
Association, the Society of Colonial 
Wars in the State of New Hampshire, 
the Maine Historical Society, the 
Pepperell Association, the Main© 
Daughters of the American Revolu- 
tion, the Paul Jones Club of Ports- 
mouth. Sons of the American Revolu- 
tion, and the United States Marine 
Corps; five by the New Hampshire 
Society of the Sons of the Revolution: 
and two by the United States Navy 
Departm ent.^ (^ J 

Eighyare in Portsmouth; one in 
Ne^jfffstle; one at the Isles of Shoals; 
three in Kittery, Me.; and three at 
the Navy- Tard. They are arranged 
by localities, and in the order of the 
dates of the events commemorated. 

The original inscriptions are all In 
capital letters, though otherwise 
printed here, and owing to the width 
of newspaper columns are not always 
'lined" as in the originals. 
HISTORICAL BRONZE TABLETS. 
Portsmouth — On the Liberty pole 
at Liberty bridge at the junction of 
Water and Marcy streets: 

"Liberty, Property 
and No Stamp" 



Near this spot 

then "Swing Bridge" 

but thenceforward called 

"Liberty Bridge" 

on January 9th, 1766 

nine years 

before the Revolution 

the "Sons of Liberty" 

of Portsmouth, N. H. 

placed the first 

"No Stamp Flag" 

raised in 

the American colonies 

"Swing Bridge" built 1731 
Waterway filled 1899 



The Liberty Pole 
A.v.sodatlon 
1913" 
Additional Inscriptions on the Lib- 
erty Pole: 
i On wooden shield: 

"Erected July 4, 1824 
I in commemoration of 

July 4 .1776, that Declared 

' Our Emancipation From 

Tyranny And Gave Us 

The Privileges of 

Freemen." 

On metallic plate: 

"Liberty 
I Flag Pole 

renewed 
' July 4, 1899." 

Portsmouth — On the Whipple school 
(State street, near Summer street; 
I "William Whipple 

Soldier and Statesman 
I Born, Kittery. Me.. January 14, 1730, 
Died Portsmouth, N, H., 
i.. November 28, 1785. 

! Eletted to Continental Cangress Jan- 
I V ' - uary, 1776 

' He signed the Declaration of 

Independence, 

As Brigadier General of X. H. Troops 

he assisted in negotiating the terms 

I of General Burgoyne's surrender at 

Saratoga, N. Y. in 1777. 
He was Judge of the Superior Court. 
I The New Hampshirti,^ocietj^_of the 
Sons of the RevoTutlon ^, tr 
I placed this tablet, 1910." *- 

Portsmouth — On the Hunklng 

I Wentworth House, on the corner of 
' Church and Congress streets, next 
west of the North church: 

"This house was occupied by 

Hunking Wentworth. 

A zealous patriot and 

efficient friend of the 

American Revolution. 

He was chairman of the 

Committee of Safety to 

obtain signatures to the 

Association Test of 1776, 

wherein citizens promised 

at the risk of their lives. 

and fortunes to oppose the 

hostile proceedings of the 

British fleets and armies. 

against the United Colonies. 



The New Hampshire Society of 
the Sons of the Revolution 
placed this tablet 
Feb. 22, 1904." 
Portsmouth— Oi; the Lord House at 
the northeast corner of State and 
Middle streets, next west of the Rock- 
ingham: 

"In this house 

Admiral (John) Paul Jones 

resided 

and at this port fitted out the 

Ranger. 1777 

and the 

America, 1781-2. 



, Erected by the 

Helen Seavey. Quilting Party 
July 4, 1913." 
Portsmouth — On the Lear house 
on the north side of Hunking street, 
(old number 7, new number 49) be- 
tween Marcy and Mechanic streets: 
"Colonel Tobias Lear 
-was born in this house in 1760. 
He was George Washington's secre- 
tary from 1783 to 1799. 
Washington visited here in 1789. 
This tablet is placed by the Society 
of the Sons of the Revolution 
of the State of New Hampshire, 
1899." 



-M 



In admiration of the gallantry 
of 
Capt. John Langdon and ; 
MaJ. John Sullivan, 1 

leaders uf the assaults. 
In memciy of the patriots 
who captured the fort and 
removed the guns and stores. 
E^rected by the 
Society of Colonial Wars 
. In the State of New Hampshire, 
,^ 1902.- 

' Isles of Shoals — On the cellar wall, 
at Appledore Island, State of Maine, 
'. of what was the house, formerly the 
I home of Hon. William Peppecell, fa- 
ther of Sir William Pepperell:^ 
' , "The 

Island Home 
of 
Hon. Wm. Pepper^ll— — ^ * 
Maine Hist. Society 190O." 
Kittery— In front of the Peppoi - 
I rell tomb and nearly opposite the old 
Peppetell house and the Parkfleld 
hotel./Kittery Point: 
! . / "In i^ommemoraUon """^ 

t:'« °f 

h** Col. William Pepper£ll_^ 

born in Devonshire, 1646, ^ /r 

died in Kittery, 1734 

and of his son 

Sir AVilliam Pepperrell, Bart., 

born in Kittery 1698, 

died in Kittery 1759 

I Chief Justice of the 

i Court of Common Pleas 

j President of the 

I Council of Massachusetts 

commanded the colonial forces 

at the successful 

siege of 

I>ouisburg, 1745 

and in recognition of his services 

was made a Baronet and 

General in the British Army. 

honors never before conferred 

on a Colonist ,__. 



He 



67 



Portsmouth — On the old Assembly 
house on Vaughan street' at the south 
corner of Raitt's court: . — 

"Assembly House -' 

built in 1750. 
Washington attended 
a reception here, 
Nov. 3, 1 
Remodelled in 1838. 
The New Hampshire Society 
, Sons of the Revolution 

I' placed this tablet 

t Feb. 22, 1903." 

Portsmouth — On the old William 
Pitt Tavern, southwest corner of 
Court and Atkinson streets: 

"The Earl of Halifax 

and 

William Pitt Hotel 

erected in 1770. 

Sen. Lafayette visited here 

in 1782. 

Also Louis Phillippe, who was 

afterwards King of France. 

This is the last spot where 

Washington personall.v 

complimented our State 

through its ofHcial 

Dignitaries in 1789. 

This tablet was placed by 

the New Hampshire Society 

of Sons of the Revolution, 

A. D. 1901." 

Portsmouth— On the southside of 

I Court, near Atkinson street, and next 

west of the Earl of Halifax and Wil- 

Uam Pitt hotel: 

"The Nutter House 

In this house 

Thomas Bailey Aldrlch 

passed the boyhood that he has mad© 

immortal in prose and verse 

Purchased by the 

Thomas Bailey Aldrich Association 

Portsmouth, August, 1907." 
■ New Castle — On the outer wall 
(Fort Constitution, near the gate: 
"In commemoration 
of the first victory of the 

American Revolution. 

The capture, on this site, of 

Fort William and Mary 

14-15 December. 1774. 



of 



c 



•ferected by the Pepperrell Association 
1907" 
Kittery— On the Whipple Garrison 
house, long the home of the late H. 
i. Philbrick, Whipple road, just south 
of Locke'.s Cove, formerly Whipple's 
Cove, Kittery Point: 

"General William Whipple 

one of the signers of the 

Declaration of Independence 

was born In this house 

June 14th, 1730. 

This tablet was placed in 

1913 

by the Maine Daughters of the 

American Revolution." 

Kittery — At the ferry landing of 

the Atlantic Shore Railway (electric) 

Badger's Island: 

"In memory of 

the Continental sloop of war 

Ranger 

launched from this island 

May 10, 1777. 

Sailed for Prance November 1, 1777, 

John Paul Jones, Captain. 

with dispatches of 

Burgoyne's surrender. 

Received February 14, 1778, 

the first salute 

to the Stars and Stripes 

from the French Fleet. 

Captured the 

British sloop of war Drake, 

April 24, 1778. 



Erected by the Paul Jones Club 

of Portsmouth, 

Sons of the American Revolution 

1905." 

Navy Yard— On the Commandant's 
house: 

" • • • • 

Died in this house 

August 14, 1870 

David Glasgow Farragut 

Admiral 

in the United States Navy 

Faithful and Fearless. 

• * * * „ 

Navy Yard— On the Marine bar- 
racks; to the first Americans killed 
In the Spanish war: 

"In memory of 

Sergt. Smith, 

and Pvt. Dumphv, Co D. 

1st Battalion, U. S. M. C. 

Killed at 

Guantanamo, Cuba. i 

June 11, 1898. 



Erected by Comrades. 



Unveiled June 11, 1907." 

Navy Yard— Peace tablet on the , 

Peaee Conference building (General 

Store) : , 

"In this building 

at the invitation of 

Theodore Roosevelt, 

President of the United States, 

was held the 

Peace Conference 

between the 

Envoys of Russia and Japan, 

and 

September 5, 1905, at 3.45 P. M. 

was signed 

The Treaty of Portsmouth 

which ended the war between the two 

Empires." -_> 



7 



HISTORIOAti MEMORIALS. 
Portsmouth— On Ihe Soldiers' 

monument, OooiUN-in Park, between 
Islingrtun and Stale streets, near Cab- 
ot street: 

North side: 

"III luinor of the Men 

of 

rortsniouth 

who save 

their services .on the 

land and on the sea 

in the war which 

preserved the I'nion 

. of the States 

this monument is erected 

i»i' tin- grateful citizens, 

18S8.". 

South side: 

"Williamsburg 

Fair Oaks 

Savage Station 

"White Oak Swamp 

Malvern Hill 

Chantllly 

South Mountain 

Chancellorsville 

Wilderness 

Cold Harbor 

Petersburg 

Richmond 

Monitor and Merrimack 

New Orleans 

Mobile Bay 

Morris Island 

James Island 

Fort Darling 

Port Hudson 

Red River 

Fort Donelson 

Peach Tree Creek 

Sherman's March to the Sea" 

Near base, north, east, south and 

west sides: 

"Gettysburg" 
"Kearsarge" <i 

"Antietam" -^ 

"Fredericksburg" 
Portsmouth — On the Equestrian 
statue of Major General Fitz John 
Porter, Haven Park, Pleasant street: 
East side: 

"On this site 

was born ") 

Fltz John Porter ' 

Aug. 31, 1822 

While his father 

Capt John Porter, U. S. N. 

commanded the Portsmouth Navy 

Yard. 

Graduated from West Point, July, 

1845. 

Distinguished himself and was 

wounded in war with Mexico 

1846—1847. 

Instructor of Artillery and Cavalry 

West Point 1854—1855. 

AsBt. Adjt. Gen. Utah Expedition 

1857. 

During Civil War 

Brev. Brig. Gen. U. S. A. June 27, 

1862 

Maj. Gen. U. S. Vol. July 4, 1862 

Commanded 5th Army Corps. 

Cashiered Jan. 21st, 1863. 



The case of Gen. Porter was review- 
ed by a Board of Officers appointed 
by President Hayes 
consisting of 
Lieut. Gen. J. M. Schofield, 
Brev. Maj. Gen. A. H. Terry, 
Brev. Maj. Gen. G. W. Getty 



Hon. Joseph H. Choate, counsel for 
Gen. Porter 



The Board fully exonerated him. 

Their judgment was approved by 

General U. S. Grant 

! Finally by both Houses of Congress. 

He was restored to his former 

rank in the Regular Army 

by 

President Cleveland. 

.k 

'WDled at Morristown, New Jersey, 
■' May 21st, 1901.' 



South side: 

Bronze Bas Relief 
"Lt. F. J. Porter wounded at the 
Aqueduct (Carita Belen). Capture <jf 
the City of Mexico, September 13th, 
1847." 
West side: 

Bronze Bas Relief, 
"General Porter reconnoitering In 
Runaway balloon, April 11, 1862." 

North side: 
1 Bronze Bas Relief, 

"Charge at Malvern Hill, July 1st, 
1862. Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter. 
Brig. Gen. Thos. Francis Meagher." 

Portsmouth — On the drinking foun- 
tain, northwest corner of State and 
Pleasant streets, near the Postoffice: 
J East side: 

"In memory of 

Ensign 

Charles Emerson Hovey 

United States Navy. 

Born in Portsmouth, Jan. 10, 18S5. 

Killed in action, 

Philippine Islands, Sept. 24, 1911. 



Son of 
Rev. Henry Emerson 
and Louise Folsom Hovey." 
West side: 

"Ensign Hovey 

graduated from the 

U. S. Naval Academy 1907 

ordered to the Philippines 1910 

was commanding 

an expedition against outlaw 

Moros. when he met his death 

His last words were 

"Get on the job McGuire" 

HISTORICAL CANNON. 




To the PaUom i i i g record of histor- 
ical monuments and tablets should be 
added an account of four historical 
cannon^, two at Portsmouth, and two 
at the Navy Yard. 

Portsmouth — In front of the Athen- 
aeum, Market Square. Two iron 
cannon/, about five feet long, each 
with tablet inscribed: 

"Taken from the British 

by 

Commodore Perry 

at the battle 

of 
Lake Erie 
Sept. 10, 
1813." 
Navy Yard — In front of the Com- 
mandants office two guns (cannon) 
with carriages and shields: 
North side of entrance. 
On gun. 

"14 CM. T. R. 
Astilleros del Nervion — Bilbao — 1894 
No. 16" 
On brass plate on gun shield. 
"From 
Spanish Cruiser 
•Vizcaya' 
Taken at the battle of 
Santiago 
July 3rd, 1S98. 
Weight of gun 9400 lbs. 
Weight of carriage 5000 lbs." 
South side of entrance. 
On gun. 

"14 CM. T. R. 

Astilleros del Nervion— Bilbao— 1893 

No. 21." 

On brass plate on gun shield. 

"From 

Spanish Cruiser 

'Maria Teresa.' 

• Taken at the battle of 

Santiago 

July 3rd. 1898. 

Weight of gun, 9400 lbs. 

Weight of carriage, 5000 lbs." 



